The farmers have called for a "peaceful" nationwide shutdown on Tuesday, a day ahead of the sixth round of talks with the government for repeal of contentious farm laws. Amid growing support from unions and Opposition parties for tomorrow's "Bharat Bandh" call, some services could get affected in Delhi - now the epicentre of farmers' protests - and the rest of the country.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the Singhu border today, where thousands of farmers are protesting against the Centre's new farm laws, and checked arrangements made for them by the city government. The Aam Aadmi leader is the first chief minister of a state to visit a protest venue.
Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar today said that the three farm laws are aimed at providing better price to farmers for their produce and it would bring prosperity and employment to the villages that have evaded poor farmers even after 70 years of independence.
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory for commuters as multiple borders between Delhi and neighbouring states remained closed for traffic.
Peaceful protests are underway at both the Singhu and Tikri borders, where farmers had gathered from Punjab and Haryana for more than 10 days. The numbers of farmers at the Ghazipur border swelled, with more joining them from Uttar Pradesh.
The new laws, aimed at doing away with middlemen and allowing farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country, have deeply upset the farmers. The farmers say it will only result in phasing out of the traditional mandis and the guaranteed minimum price paid by the government, leaving them at the mercy of the corporates.